Greenhouse construction.



Patented Sept. I8, I900.

J. A KRAMER.

GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION.

(Application filed July 18, 1899.)

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No. 657,987. Patented Sept. l8, I900.

J. A. KRAMER. GREENHUUSE CONSTRUCTIUN. (Application filed July 18,1899.) (No Model.) '3 Sheets8heef Z,

No. 657,987. Patented Sept. l8, I900- J. A. KRAMER. GREENHOUSEGDNSTBUCTION.

' (Application filed July 15, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets8heet 3L UNITEDSTATES JUDSON A. KRAMER,

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OF MARION, IOWA.

GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 657,987, datedSeptember 18, 1900.

Application filed July 18,1899.

Serial NO- 724,218. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J UDSON A. KRAMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marion, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Greenhouse Construction;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use-the same.

The main object of this invention is to im prove the construction ofgreenhouses so as to facilitate their erection, secure a greaterrelative amount of light, and provide for adjustmentin the height ofthebenches. This and other objects are attained by means herein-a afterfully set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is ageneral view in perspective of a greenhouse embodying my improvements.Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the skeleton or framework of one end ofsuch a greenhouse and of one of its benches. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is atransverse sectional View illustrating my improvements as applied to agreenhouse composed of a series of equal span sections or divisions.Fig. et is a side view from the right of what would be the left end ofthe extreme right-hand section of such a composite structure. Fig. 5,Sheet 3, is a detail view illustrating the construction and arrangementof parts near the eaves. Fig. 6 is a transverse section through thecenter of a pair of clamps by which nailing-posts are attached to themain tubular wall-posts. Fig. 7 is a central section of the upper end ofone of the tubular wall-posts and its rafter-supporting cap. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of one of the clamps used for a bench-support at thewallposts. Fig. 9 is a plan View of a pair of the same in position. Fig.10 is a side View of one of the forked caps for small posts used ascenter or intermediate supports for the roof with one of the rafterconnections in position. Fig. 11 is a plan View of a cross used forconnecting rafters and purlins. Fig. 12 is a side View of a socket-ironused at the lower ends of rafters and at the outer ends of benchbeams.Fig. 13 is a side perspective view of a strut-step adapted forattachment to a roofsupporting post. 7

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. A leadingfeature in the construction of my improved greenhouse is the employmentof tubing or pipe throughout the Whole structure for the framework. Thistubing, cut in the proper length, is joined at any desired angle toother parts by means of socketed connections, as will be hereinafterfully described. By the use of these connections and tubing of suitablelengthsit becoln es possible to build agreenhouse of equal or unequalroof span or pitch without any other or adaptation of parts.

Referring now to the drawings, A A designate the outer Wall-posts, whichin the case of .the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are of course ofdiflerent length on opposite sides of the house. In the structure shownin Fig. 3 they would be uniform in length. These are set in cement B inthe usual way, being anchored by a transverse pin A or by. othersuitable means. The posts for the outer Walls should be uniform indiameter for convenience in applying the siding, two-inch gas- I pipebeing ordinarily suitable. In the case of sectional houses like that.shown in Fig. 3 the inner postsA may be smaller, though shown of thesame size as the outer ones. It is designed to set the outer wall-postsabout four feet apart to give stability to the framework and siding;butthe rafters may connect only with alternate posts,.as shown in Fig.2. 'Wherever they may be necessary for the proper support of the roof,smaller intermediate posts A are used, suitably embedded in cement. Inthe absence of tie-beams, which are seldom used in greenhouseconstruction, these posts will always be used to support the ridge, andin the case of long roof-spans may be employed midway of the rafters, asin Fig. 2. These posts are lettered A to distinguish them from theridge-supporting posts, the only difference being in length. A preferredform of construction is that shown in Fig. 3, where instead of the postsA diagonal struts C are used, connecting with the ridge or king-post Aby a step D.

preliminary fitting At the upper ends of all the posts above describedare attached forked socket arms or caps E and E, the only essentialdifference between them being that the shanks of the caps E are smallerthan the oihers, so as to fit smaller pipeone inch, for example. Theshank or socket portion E of each cap is provided with a boss Ereceiving a set-screw E by which the part is securely fast-cued to thepost. The lugs E forming the fork, have each a hole E of a suitable sizeto take a purlin F of one-inch pipe, for example.

The rafters in the case of short spans, as shown at the left in Fig. 2,each consist of a single piece of pipe of the same diameter as thepurlins and sockets at each end to connect them with the purlin at thecaves and ridge, respectively. The socket G for the lower end of therafter H is best shown in Fig. 12. This has a socketed shank G toreceive the rafter and a transverse hole G to take the pnrlin. Bosses Gadjacent to these respective parts of the fitting, are provided withset-screws G and by this means are attached securely to the rafters andpurlins. The same fitting serves as a support for the outer end of eachbench-beam, as will be referred to later. The socket-iron is of asuitable diameter to pass between the lugs of the post-caps throughwhich pass the purlins, as shown in Fig. 2. It is not absolutelynecessary that the part be provided with a set-screw for fastening tothe purlin; but by making it as shown in Fig. 12 the same part maybeused for the rafters and the benclnbeams. The upper end of each rafteris provided with a socketiron G which is similar to that just abovedescribed except that the upper boss and setscrew are dispensed with anda half of the head is cut away at G, as shown in Fig. 10, so that tworafters may connect with the ridge-purlin between the lugs of the forkedcap E. In the case of long spans the rafters are each made of two ormore pieces of tubing connected at their adjacent .ends by a crosssocket-iron I. (Best shown in Fig. 11.) The cylindrical end portions ofthis cross are provided with bosses I and set-screws 1 so as to fastenit securely to the oppositely-extending pieces of pipe forming therafter. Through the enlarged or rather the oppositely-cylindrical-formedmiddle I is a hole corresponding to the outer diameter of the purlin F.This cross when in position rests between the lugs of one of theintermediate post-caps, as shown in Fig. 2.

Provision is made for the nailing on of the siding J by clamping to theouter posts suitable auxiliary or nailing posts K. These clamps areillustrated in Figs. 2 and 6 and consist each of a pair of castings L,curved at L to embrace a portion of the cylindrical pipe and at theother end provided with a suitable tang or inwardlycurved end L adaptedto embed itself in the side of the timber K. The two parts of the clampare forced tightly against the sides of the post and the adjacent timberbya bolt M, passing through a hole in each member of the clamp.

The sash-bars N for the roof are attached to the purlins by metallicstirrups O, as shown in Fig. 5. A ridge-board is dispensed with, theabutting ends of the sash-bars being mitered directly to each other, asindicated in Figs. 1 and 5. At the lower ends the roof sash-bars jointhe vertical sash-bars of the side wall in the same plane, theprojecting lower portion of the roof-glass P forming the cave, as shownin Fig. 5. By this construction all superfluous parts are eliminated,and the greatest possible amount of direct stinlight, in proportion tothe size and strength of the structure, is secured.

The construction of the benches is shown in Figs. :2, 8, 9, and 12.Posts Q, which may be of one-inch gas-pipe, are set at suitable pointsin the same manner as the structural posts. They are of such a lengththat when the bench is at its highest point the upper ends of the postswill extend some distance above the horizontal supports or cross-bars R,and thus serve as an outer brace for the front board S of the bench. Thecross-bars are connected at the outer ends to wall-posts by clamps T.(Best shown in Figs. 8 and 9.) One end of the casting forming eachclampiron is similar to that hitherto described and is adapted topartially embrace the tubular post. The other end is concaved at rightangles thereto, so as to embrace half of the cross-bar or a little lessthan half of it. A bolt U, passing through suitable holes in theclamp-irons, holds the parts securely to the post and cross-bar. Thesocket-iron G, already described, is attached to the inner end of thecross-bar and is fastened at any desired elevation to the post Q. Onthese cross-bars are laid the flooring-boards of the bench S. The frontboard S and the back board S may be attached to the adjacent posts bystaples or stirrups V. The construction, as will be apparent, is verycheap, simple, and easy of erection. It is also desirable as permittingany desired adjustment in the height of the benches, a frequentrequirement in the management of greenhouses. All the operator has to doin making such adjustment is to place jacks at proper points under thebenches, loosen the set-screws and nuts, and raise or lower at will;

In Fig. 13 is shown an enlarged view of the step D for the struts shownin Fig. 3. This has a central hub D, provided with a setscrew boss D andwings D provided with suitable bolt-holes D to take the fork at thelower end of each strut. The construction of this fork is substantiallythe same as that at the upper end of the strut already described, theonly difierence being that the forked part need not be so large.

Where the greenhouse is a composite structure, as shown in Fig. 3, thegutter W is con veniently mounted on a series of graduallydescendingcross-bars X, secured to the adjacent posts by socket-irons G difieringonly from those already described in having a larger hole in case theposts are larger. Where small posts are used, the socket-iron is thesame as that used on the bench crossbars.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A greenhouse frame or skeleton comprising a series of outer tubularposts, a series of king-posts in transverse alinement therewith, aseries of rafters in the same planes as the posts, tubular purlins atthe ridge and eaves, and interlocking socket-irons adapted to connectthe ends of the rafters with the posts by the\passage through saidsocket-irons of the purlins, substantially as described.

2. Agreenhouse frame or skeleton comprising a series of outer, tubularposts, a series of kin g-posts in transverse alinem enttherewith,tubular rafters in the same transverse planes as said posls, each ofsaid rafters being composed of two or more pieces, socket-ironsconnecting the adjacent ends of said pieces of each rafter, and adaptedto receive a tubular purlin at right angles thereto, purlins at theridge, eaves and between the adjacent ends of the sections of eachrafter, and socketirons forming interlocking terminals for the posts andrafters, and through which the purlins pass to connect the parts of theframe, substantially as described.

3. A greenhouse frame orskeleton comprising tubular wall-posts, tubularking-posts,tu-- bular rafters, pu rlins and struts, interlocking socketirons forming the terminals of .the posts, rafters and struts,socket-irons connecting the adjacent ends of each part of a rafter, allsaid socket-irons being adapted to receive said purlins therethrough tobind the parts together, and a step for the lower ends of the struts,adjustable on the king-post, substantially as described.

4. In a greenhouse-frame, the combination of a tubular post, rafter andpurlin, of a forked cap for the post, and a socket-terminal for therafter adapted to lie between the lugs of a forked cap, said post-capand raftersocket being provided with transverse holes to receive saidpurlin, substantially as described.

5. In a greenhouse-frame, the combination of a tubular post, purlin andpair of rafters, of a forked cap for the post and a pair of terminalsocket-ironsfor the rafters, the lugs of the cap and heads of thesocket-irons being provided with holes to receive the purlins, and theheads of the socket-irons being halved together, whereby they may liebetween the lugs of the cap and with the rafters in the same plane,substantially as described.

6. In a greenhouse-frame, the combination with a tubular post, purlin,and rafter composed of two or more tubular parts, of a forked capsurmounting the post or strut, and a socket-iron to receive the adjacentends of the parts of the rafter,said socket-iron having a transversemiddle hole to receive the purlin, and the lugs of the cap havingsimilar holes for the same purpose, substantially as described.

7. In a greenhouse, the combination of a tubular outer post, an adjacentwood post to which to nail the siding, and clamps adapted to partiallyembrace both posts and hold the nailing-post in position, substantiallyas described.

8. In a greenhouse, the combination with a tubular frame or skeleton,substantially as described, of sash-bars clipped to the purlins, andvertical, side sash-bars extending down therefrom in the same planes asthe roof sashbars, the eaves being formed by the projection of theroof-glass, substantially as described. v 9. In a green house,tl1ecombination of tubular bench-posts and cross-bars to support thebench-bed, of a pair of clamp-irons adapted to engage one end of eachcross-bar and the adjacent post, a retaining-bolt therefor, and asocket-iron fitting the opposite end of each cross-bar and adapted toengage the adjacent post, and provided with set-screws for securing itto the respective parts, substantially as described.

10. In a greenhouse, the combination of a series of opposite,cave-supporting posts, a gutter under the eaves, a series of descendingcross-bars to support said gutter, and socketirons attached to the endsof said cross-bars and adapted to slide on said posts and to be securedthereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JUDSON A. KRAMER.

Witnesses:

O. H. SANFORD, J. M. ST. JOHN.

